Rail brace



-M. JICHA.

Rm BBACE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 211 I92!- Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

IIIII. I. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATHEW JIGHA, OF,BRIDGE1ORT, OHIO.

RAIL BRACE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MATHEW Jiorm, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Bridgeport, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to rail braces, and more specifically to a combined chair and brace for railway rails.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive brace for railway rails, having a form which practically insures against lateral shifting movement of the rails even in cases where those attaching spikes which engage the rail base should become wholly withdrawn.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is herein had to the accompanying d swings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention disposed in position on a crosstie, but with the rail removed; and- Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same with the rail shown in position in dotted lines.

The invention consists of two identical companion members, each member formed of a single piece of heavy sheet metal and comprising a hook 1 formed at the inner end of a flat plate 2 which is designed to rest upon the top surface of a crosstie 3. Said hook is upwardly and backwardly inclined for embracing an edge portion of the base of a railway rail d which is seated upon the adjacent end portion or the plate 2. Provided in said plate at a suitably spaced distance from said hook is a hole 5 for the reception of a spike 6 which is thereby positioned for having its head overlie the edge of the rail base at the side opposite that engaged by sald hook.

The plate 2 is of elongated form, being prolonged away from the rail a considerable distance, preferably from six to ten inches, providing a tail-piece 2 which has therein adjacent to its outer end one or more holes 7 "for the reception of spikes 10 or similar devices whereby said outer end of the tailpiece is rigidly attached to the underlying crosstie.

The plates 2 of the companion members are adapted to be disposed in reverse relation with their inner lateral edges in engagement, one with the other. Each of said inner edges has therein a reentrant angle 8,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 479,365.

preferably acute, which extends into the rail underlying portion of the plate 2 in the general direction of the hook l and whereby is termed a lateral inwardly and backwardly inclined wing 9, adapted, in the normal seated positions of said members, to interlock with the corresponding wing of the companion member for preventing relative lateral shfting of said members.

Repeated working movement of trackrails due to rolling stock passing thereover ordinarily results in the spikes which engage the rail bases becoming loosened or withdrawn in a relatively short interval to the extent that said spikes afilord inadequate security against lateral movement or spread ing oi the rails. lVhilc the rail-engaging spikes 6 directed through the holes 5 in the chair members of the present invention will perhaps work loose as readily as those heretofore used, it is manifest that the working movements oi. the rails will have practically no eiiect upon the spikes 10 used in the outer ends or tail-pieces 2 of said members at a considerable distance from the rails. Consequently, said members will be maintained by said spikes 10 in their proper positions with the hooks 1 thereof closely embracing the opposite edges of the rail bases, eliminating all tendency of the rails either to more laterally or to turn over.

llhat is claimed is- A, rail chair and brace comprising complemental reversely disposed members, each consisting of a fiat plate for resting upon a crosstie in underlying relation to a rail base, one end of said plate being turned back to form a hook for embracing an edge oi the base of the seated rail, said plate being prolonged in the direction opposite the hook to a considerable distance from said rail and having a spike hole therein adjacent to the outer end thereof, the inner lateral edges of said members being reversely inclined throughout and provided with acute reentrant angles whereby are formed acute angled wings which occupy interlocked relation, the outer edge of each wing being engaged with the inclined edge of the opposite'member and having an inclination corresponding with that of the latter.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MATHEWV JICHA. WVitnesses W. F. Knnrnn, H. E. DUNLAP. 

